RAN Positioning Message Routing via DU for AMF Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication architectures face inefficiencies due to signaling bottlenecks at the access and mobility management function (AMF) when supporting LPP and NRPPa messages, which become less applicable in cloud-native environments with service-based interfaces, leading to suboptimal performance and increased overhead.
Innovation Solution
Enhancements are introduced to support LPP and NRPPa message exchanges using a distributed unit (DU) or a DU combined with a radio configuration manager (RCM) as a relay via a relay, via a radio configuration manager (RCM) or a radio bearer, allowing direct communication between user equipment (UE) and a location management function (LMF) without relying on the AMF, thereby reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If LPP and NRPPa messages are routed through the AMF in existing wireless communication architectures, then message exchange is supported, but signaling bottlenecks occur and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the LPP and NRPPa message routing function from the AMF and relocates it to the DU. The DU directly receives positioning messages from the LMF and forwards them to the UE, eliminating the AMF as an intermediate node for these specific positioning protocols. This extraction resolves the signaling bottleneck at the AMF while maintaining reliable message exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The DU acts as a new intermediary between the LMF and UE for positioning message exchange. Instead of routing all positioning messages through the AMF, the DU serves as a dedicated mediator that handles LPP and NRPPa messages directly, reducing the signaling load on the AMF and improving overall signaling efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-native environments with service-based interfaces are deployed, then network flexibility is improved, but existing LPP and NRPPa message routing becomes less applicable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the message routing functionality by protocol type. Different routing paths are established for different protocols: LPP and NRPPa messages are routed directly through the DU, while other control plane messages continue to use the AMF. This segmentation allows the network to maintain flexibility in cloud-native environments while simplifying the routing logic for each protocol type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic message routing capabilities where the DU can adaptively select the appropriate routing path based on the message type and current network conditions. This dynamic approach enables the system to optimize performance in cloud-native environments while maintaining compatibility with existing protocols.
3Productivity
If direct communication between UE and LMF is enabled via DU, then signaling overhead is reduced, but reliance on AMF decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The DU serves as a dedicated intermediary for positioning message exchange between the LMF and UE. This intermediary role allows direct communication paths to be established, reducing signaling overhead compared to routing all messages through the AMF. The DU handles the complexity of direct routing while maintaining protocol compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing architecture is segmented into multiple paths: a direct path through the DU for LPP and NRPPa messages, and the traditional path through the AMF for other messages. This segmentation reduces overall signaling overhead by eliminating unnecessary hops while distributing routing complexity across multiple network elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments herein relate to a location service (LCS) procedure of a user equipment (UE). The UE may be configured to generate a message for transmission to a location mobility function (LMF) of a cellular network, wherein the message is related to the LCS procedure. The UE may further be configured to address the message to the LMF. The UE may further be configured to encode the message for transmission to a distributed unit (DU) of the cellular network, wherein the DU is configured to forward the message to the LMF. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.